From March 9 – 13, students will be able to recycle plastic film on campus. Plastic film, often found in items like grocery bags, bubble wrap, and air bags — or material that is usually denoted as plastic 4 — cannot be recycled normally.

This week, the collection bin is located by the Student Center Post Office, and volunteers are on hand to answer any questions. Check here for a list of what can and cannot be recycled as plastic film.

The plastic film recycling pilot program is a joint effort between the Student Government Association Sustainability Committee and the Office of Solid Waste Management and Recycling. Late last fall, the sustainability committee wanted to find a way to recycle plastic film on campus, so they leveraged their partnership with Waste Management for assistance. The program then went through several iterations before landing on one that Georgia Tech Facilities Management felt comfortable handling.

“To me, the significance of the program comes from making students aware that plastic film is a material that can actually be recycled, but just has to be treated a little differently,” said Robin Cornell, co-chair of the sustainability committee. “We hope to collect a significant amount of material, demonstrate the need and viability of the program, and educate the student body and campus community on what plastic film is and how to recycle it.”